Cancer: growth & spread

Summary

Solid tumors require a blood supply to grow, which they stimulate by releasing chemical signals that cause nearby blood vessels to sprout. As cancer cells divide, they accumulate mutations, and different tumor regions behave differently. Some cells invade surrounding tissues, enter the bloodstream, and travel to distant parts of the body, potentially forming secondary tumors. This process, known as metastasis, presents a major challenge in cancer treatment. Ongoing research at the Barts Cancer Institute is focused on finding ways to prevent cancer from spreading, which is crucial for improving cancer therapies.

Takeaways

• 😀 Tumors require a blood supply to survive and grow, just like any tissue in the body.
• 😀 As a tumor grows, it releases chemical signals that stimulate the growth of new blood vessels from nearby ones.
• 😀 The newly formed blood vessels supply nutrients to the tumor, aiding in the growth of cancer cells.
• 😀 Each time cancer cells divide, new mutations accumulate in their genomes, making them more diverse.
• 😀 Tumor cells behave differently due to the accumulation of distinct mutations in various regions of the tumor.
• 😀 Some parts of the tumor grow more aggressively, leading to the spread of cancer to other areas.
• 😀 Cancer cells, like all cells, must attach to surrounding proteins using integrins, which help them sense their environment.
• 😀 In cancer, integrins can send signals that prompt cancer cells to invade surrounding tissues.
• 😀 Tumor cells can invade blood vessels, enter the bloodstream, and travel to distant parts of the body.
• 😀 The spread of cancer cells to new areas and the formation of secondary tumors is called metastasis, which is a major challenge in cancer treatment.

Q & A

Why do solid tumors need a blood supply?

Solid tumors require a blood supply to survive and grow because they need oxygen and nutrients, which are delivered via blood vessels.

What happens when a tumor grows in terms of blood supply?

As the tumor grows, it releases chemical signals that cause nearby blood vessels to sprout new vessels, creating a blood supply to nourish the cancer cells.

How do blood vessels form around a tumor?

Blood vessels form around a tumor through a process called angiogenesis, where the tumor sends out chemical signals that stimulate nearby blood vessels to grow towards the tumor.

How do mutations in cancer cells contribute to tumor growth?

As cancer cells divide, mutations build up in their genomes. Different regions of the tumor acquire distinct mutations, causing the tumor to behave heterogeneously, with some areas growing more aggressively than others.

What role do integrins play in cancer cell behavior?

Integrins are proteins that help cancer cells attach to the surrounding protein network. They also provide signals that can instruct the cancer cells to invade surrounding tissue.

What is metastasis?

Metastasis is the process by which cancer cells spread from the primary tumor to other parts of the body, forming secondary tumors in distant tissues.

How do cancer cells spread throughout the body?

Cancer cells can invade blood vessels, enter the bloodstream, and travel to distant organs. Once they reach a new location, they may exit the blood vessel and begin forming a secondary tumor.

Why is metastasis considered a major challenge in treating cancer?

Metastasis is a major challenge because it allows cancer to spread to multiple parts of the body, making treatment more complex and less likely to be successful.

What is the focus of cancer research at the Barts Cancer Institute?

The Barts Cancer Institute focuses on research aimed at finding ways to prevent cancer cells from spreading, thus targeting metastasis as a key area of study.

What is the role of integrins in cancer cell invasion?

Integrins can send signals that encourage cancer cells to invade nearby tissues and potentially spread to other parts of the body.